On the road again...

Well, I said I was signing off until the new year.
Lucky for you we got a new camera.
Smile.
Seriously, the past few days have been a whirlwind of activity. Our weekend was full of parties, visiting and shopping. The past 2 days have been full of cleaning, laundering, wrapping and packing. For better or for worse we are poised to leave at 5am tomorrow morning. This morning Nathaniel kept insisting that he wanted to "Go Will and Mar-ana's house right NOW!"

Signing off for Christmas!

We have a busy few days ahead before we head to Philadelphia on Wednesday. We are so excited to be spending Christmas with my siblings and then welcoming oma & opa a few days later! We will not be back until 2010!
In order to keep our sanity I am going to be stepping away from the computer for awhile. There will be plenty of time to comb through photo's and make blog updates when we get back. I want to really savor our time away and make the most of every minute with family that we so rarely get to see. (Plus, keeping the kids on schedule, happy, and occupied will take some time.)
In the meantime, I have re-discovered this hymn. I heard it this week and was struck by the incredible truth in it's words. Jesus coming to earth was just part of the redeeming story!
We hope you have a Merry Christmas enjoying food, fun, and family and also reflecting on the depth and joy of our salvation! The Light has come!

As with gladness, men of old
Did the guiding star behold
As with joy they hailed its light
Leading onward, beaming, bright
So, most glorious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to thee.

As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed
There to bend the knee before
Him Whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

In the heavenly country bright,
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King!
-William C. Dix, 1867

Keeping it simple

Cookie decorating...

It is no secret that I am not really a perfectionist. But, there are some areas of life in which I put a lot of pressure on myself, mostly because I care too much about what others will think or say about me if I am not perfect in those areas.
This year, Aaron and I decided early (before Thanksgiving) that we did not want the whole holiday season to get hectic, stressful, or cost more than we could afford. We realized that having 2 young children who get slightly crazy when their schedules are changed too much means that we as their parents have to be intentional about slowing down. We had to limit activities and be able to say "no" to things.
I also had realized that I had to let go of perfection. I had to be willing to let people see the real us (laundry waiting to be folded and dishes in the sink included).
So we prioritized. We tried to plan to be home most weeknight evenings. We made time for down-time and alone time as well as fun, family, friend time.
I realized that if I was going to have people over I had to let go of my "Better Homes & Gardens" visions of the house and focus on clean bathrooms and made beds. If we were going to host a holiday party I was going to have to relax and let people bring food, trusting that there will always be more than enough.
Today I am so thankful that we prepared ourselves in this way because this week, after not being sick all Fall, we have been sick. The boys have both had random (and thankfully short lived) fevers and I have had a cold. And the last rush to Christmas is about to begin. We have a party here on Friday night, Saturday spent in Atlanta with extended family, and leaving for Philly on Wednesday.
I know there is a lot to do. But I am inexplicably not really stressed about it. I feel kind of like when the boys decorate cookies - it may be messy, it may not be perfect, but it sure is good!

Our Advent - the Jesse Tree

We started doing Advent readings as a family last year. We found it such a great way to as a family carve out quiet time in which we could focus on the coming of Christ. We knew we wanted to continue the tradition but I wanted to find some way to do Advent readings that would be more interactive for the boys.
I had heard and read about the concept of a Jesse tree and after finding out that one of my favorite blog authors had written a Jesse tree devotional I decided we should try it. I must say, it has been a blessing to us.

What is a Jesse Tree?
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, and the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. - Isaiah 11:1-2
The name comes from the verse, the idea being that Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophecy. As we walk through the waiting of Advent we read stories from the Old Testament that point to the coming of Christ. Following the history of the Bible shows us the need for the Savior. The world's need for redemption as well as our own.

How we do our Jesse Tree.
There are many ways to do a Jesse tree. There are many different devotionals. I chose The Glorious Coming: A Jesse Tree Advent Celebration by Ann Voskamp because I liked the writing style (reminds me of Walter Wangerin & Frederick Buechner, favorites from my growing years) and because the e-book came with print outs for the tree ornaments. Some families make and/or collect ornaments to match the stories but I liked the idea of the boys having an ornament to color while we read the devotional. You don't even actually have to have a real tree - you can use paper on the wall or even a dead branch from outside.

Our devotional time is simple and relatively short. The light in the dining room is already dimmed because we eat mostly by candle light and the light from the tree. The boys each color an ornament while Aaron reads the scripture and short devotional. They then hang the ornament on the tree and get their piece of candy out of our Advent calendar. As they munch we look at the ornaments already hung and talk about the stories. We try to finish with a Christmas hymn (Jeremiah likes O Come, O Come Emmanuel and Nathaniel likes Angels We Have Heard On High for the "glo-o-o-o-ria, in excelcies deo" part).

What I like
The scope of Biblical redemptive history- I love that we are reading the familiar stories in the Bible with our eyes on Jesus. God had a plan for the world's salvation and glimpses of promises and grace shine throughout the Bible. To be considering this faithfulness and love during Advent is amazing. I think this walk through the Bible can help the boys string together the stories they learn in Sunday school and is another tool for teaching that the Bible is not just a book of tall tales or moral fables but it is the true story of God's redemptive work.

The physical & visual reminder - I love that there is a separate tree in our house designated for this remembering. Throughout the day we see with our eyes the reminders of God's love and faithfulness. I can talk about different ornaments with the boys throughout the day. They can walk up to the tree and finger and marvel. I kept this tree simple with hand strung cranberry garland. I added nativity ornaments that I found and more ornaments are added every night. My idea is that this is a tree the boys can touch.
The other part of the physical and visual reminder that I did not consider initially was that others coming into our home will see it and question us about it. This gives the boys (and us) an opportunity to give a brief explanation and even presentation of the gospel. It is like a small "altar" in our home. It's very presence speaks to what we want to remember as the truth of Christmas.

Creativity & Interaction - Right now the creativity is simple crayons and printed ornaments. But I can see possibilities for more creativity as the boys grow. I like that we interact over the ornaments, tree, and stories. We color and hang. We talk and ponder.

The Jesse Tree is a good way for our family to mark Advent. It works for us with small children (no fire, smile) and provides a good way for us as a family to focus on Christ in a very thoughtful way during this season that can so easily become busy, stressful, materialistic, and self-centered.

New Christmas Music

One of the reasons I love Christmas music is because I only listen to it for 6 weeks out of the year. I wait for Thanksgiving weekend to pull out the favorite cd's and after playing them over and over again I am ready to put them away by New Year's.
I haven't bought new Christmas music in a long time. Mostly because I am becoming more selective of what I want to listen to. After a while all the renditions of "Holly Jolly Christmas" or "Jingle Bells" all start sounding the same. And the sappy songs about Christmas shoes and other such sentimentality just don't do it for me. Those are not things I want to spend my money on.
For me, music is key to helping focus my mind, heart, and thoughts in this season of Advent I want music that inspires meditation, worship and joy.
The other day in McKay's I took some time to peruse the Christmas music. Aaron told me that I should try and find more for our collection (maybe he was getting tired of Harry Connick, Jr. Amy Grant and Michael Card?). I was excited to run across a few cd's to add to the collection.

A Lion King Christmas: featuring the International Companies of The Lion King
This one was a complete surprise! The title caught my eye because of Nathaniel's recent obsession. As I read the back cover I saw mostly religious titles done by companies from all over the world. I was hoping that since the songs were done by the companies of The Lion King it would have some more African rhythms and flair. And it does! Good drums, great harmonies, awesome energy. This one is my very favorite this year. Two new songs have really helped me in my Advent meditations (while doing the dishes, smile); "Our Shepherd Boy" speaks of our need for rescuing and "Precious Boy" is sung from the perspective of Joseph and Mary as parents of the Christ Child. Beautiful! My all time favorite Christmas hymn is "O Holy Night" and let me just tell you that the energy and beauty in this rendition make me literally want to fall on my knees in worship.

Sarah McLachlan, Wintersong
I love her voice! So mellow and calm and inspiring. This cd has a great mix of secular and religious songs with different arrangements that make the old favorites sound new (but not silly). I especially love "River" which was originally done by Joni Mitchell.

Jewel, Joy: A Holiday Collection
I was actually pleasantly surprised by this. All of the songs but 2 are religious and really well done. Reverent and peaceful. The song "Face of Love" written by Jewel speaks simply and eloquently of the beauty of the incarnation.

Johnny Cash: The Christmas Spirit
If you know us at all you know what a "fan" Aaron is of Johnny Cash. I had no idea he had made a Christmas album. It is a beautiful mix of songs, story telling, and thoughts but Mr. Cash. This is not one to just have on in the background, you want to really take time to listen intently.

So, that is what we are listening to this year. What are your Christmas favorites?

1000 Gifts (6)

- Late night conversation with my cousin. Encouragement, laughter, understanding.
- Watching Jeremiah put his arm protectively around Nathaniel to help him cross the library parking lot.
- Good food and interesting conversation with new friends around our dining room table.
- Christmas shopping with Aaron.
- Being able to let go of the stress and busy-ness that usually comes this time of year.
- Nathaniel's fascination with painstakingly setting up the nativity scene.
- Sounds of roaring and shrieking laughter as the boys play together in their room.
- Rainy weather that magnifies our twinkling lights and keeps us quietly indoors enjoying each other.
- Aaron's patience as he colors another picture with Jeremiah and plays another game of "kings and dragons" with Nathaniel.

Christmas Parade

Friday night was cold. We walked one block from our house up to Main Street to watch the annual Christmas parade. I love that I live in a town that actually has a "Main Street."

The boys were excited but not sure exactly what to expect.

Look at that boy!! I LOVE his facial expressions.

And this boy, at the ripe old age of 4 years old doesn't want his mama to show public displays of affection toward him. I thought that didn't happen until 13?! But check out those eyes and that hair, they are going to make a lot of girls hearts go pitter-patter one day.

Anyway - the parade this year was about getting candy. Jeremiah ignored the floats, antique cars, and herd of horses in his pursuit of the candy that was tossed.

Nathaniel was a minimalist and happily held on to his one candy cane and lolly pop,
afraid to drop them if he tried to pick up more.

This boy has mad candy gathering skills. This bag is 1/4 full.

We went home to sort the stash.
Next year I am not buying candy for the Advent calendar. I will wait until after the parade.

Wardrobe

This is a completely random post. I'm sure most of you are going to roll your eyes and wonder again at this crazy (boring?) life I am living. But, it is possible that this may inspire someone out there to think outside the box...

When we moved into this house our entertainment center (that I had searched high and low for a few years ago - the perfect size, enough storage, the right style, the right price) just didn't work in our new living room. I was a bit unnaturally attached to it and was unable to just set it out by the street. So we slid it off into the turtle room (the mudroom) until we could decide what to do with it. I posted it on Craigslist (for a crazy cheap price), showed it to friends and basically did everything I could possibly think of to give it a new home. But no one wanted it!

This wasn't really a problem in the summer. But as the weather started cooling and we were getting out more coats, hats, scarves and such I started to get frustrated. This thing was in the way of where I wanted to put wardrobes not to mention the fact that we were using it to collect everything that didn't have a place yet. It was a mess and stressed me out every time I walked in the door.

Then one day it hit me. By removing the glass door and a few shelves and adding a shower curtain rod I could transform the entertainment center into a wardrobe! Perfect! I saved us a ton of money and helped the environment. Not bad.

1000 Gifts (5)

- Ladies in the church who selflessly give of their time to teach my children about Jesus. (Picture of Jeremiah & Nathaniel's Sunday school class at their Christmas party today.)

- This man who calls me at the end of a busy day and asks what he can do to help.
- Anticipating our Christmas trip to Philadelphia. Especially now that more loved ones are meeting us there!
- left-over pumpkin pie
- good exercise
- Nathaniel belting out "Gl-o-o-o-o-o-RIA!"
- the surprise of the deep burgundy leaves on the Bradford pear trees after all the other trees have dropped their leaves
- Jeremiah's desire to gift everyone he knows with a candy cane
- accomplishing everything on my "to-do" list.

I'm a day late, but still grateful. (Edit: I realized today that I actually did post this on Monday. So I am not late. Just shows you how my brain is (not) working these days.)

(I am up to 50 gifts in my journal. I selectively post some here.)

Snow!

We awoke to a light dusting of snow. Enough to make us snow-starved Georgians excited. The boys had to build a snow man. After Aaron labored to bring enough snow to build a small one the boys tackled it and started a snowball fight. Jeremiah kept exclaiming, "This is so cool!!" It was wet and mushy and we all had cold toes. The boys got a bath, I made hot chocolate, and put a pan of Snickerdoodle Blondies in the oven. The house smells heavenly and we are warm and cozy. The sun has come out and the last bits of snow are melting away.

I am thankful for relaxing days together when we having nothing on the agenda other than being, experiencing and enjoying.
(Note: the last few pictures are blurry because I dropped the camera in the snow and there was condensation on the lens.)

Light

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. -Isaiah 9:2

Lights twinkle through the house. Fairy lights on trees and in windows. Candles lit as the grey gloom of early evening sets in.

The boys love the tree. At the foot of the tree, bathed in it's light, they play with their nativity scene and read their Christmas books. Often they will simply stand looking. There is wonder in their eyes. Jeremiah remarks that the tree is "magnificent!" After dinner we sit on the couch all snuggled together and gaze at the tree. Certain ornaments bring memories and stories.

At dinner time I light candles on the table. We dim the overhead light. The Jesse Tree sparkles in the corner, waiting each night for a new ornament to be placed, a new story pointing us to Jesus to be told.

My soul breathes. And wonders.

The light shines into the dark corners of my heart. The places where sin lurks and loneliness hides. Peace comes in the remembering of the Light.

Once upon a time the world was dark, and the land where the people lived was in deep darkness. It was as dark as the night in the daytime. It had been dark for so long that the people had forgotten what the light was like. ...
But God was in love with the world.
God looked down from heaven and saw that the earth was stuck, like a clock at midnight. "No," he said. "This isn't good. It's time to make time tick again. Time, time," said the mighty God, "to turn the earth from night to morning."
And God was in love with the people especially. ...
God watched the people move about like fireflies in the night, and he shook his head. "Poor people, pretending to be happy," he said. "Well, I want them to be happy. It's time," declared the Lord our God. "It's time to do a new thing!"
- from The Manger is Empty by Walter Wangerin, Jr

Communion

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. - I Corinthians 11:23-26

On the last Sunday of the month our church family gathers over a shared meal to also share communion. I found it a beautiful way to begin the season of Advent. During Advent we focus on the wait for a Savior. Which of course begs the question, "Why did we need a Savior in the first place?"

For sure, the Christmas season is full of thought and joy. We think about the baby Jesus and imagine him soft and cuddly in a manger. But that is just the beginning of the story.

I realized in a new way this past Sunday as I took the bread and the cup that we are "proclaiming the Lord's death until he comes." WOW! This tangible reminder of the reason Christ came to dwell among us. Because God loves us. Because God wanted us to be in communion with him. Because only the perfect sacrifice of his Son can cleanse the sin that is deep in my soul.

So I proclaim. For myself. For the world.

How Deep the Father's Love For Us
by Stuart Townsend
How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give and answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom.